2019 Honda HR-V ditches manual, gets volume knob

The 2019 Honda HR-V was officially announced Tuesday, confirming a few changes we already new (or at least strongly suspected) and bringing with it some welcome updates and revisions.

For starters, the manual transmission has been eliminated entirely. Honda warned us that this change was coming, so it's not really a surprise (nor should it have been even notwithstanding the advanced notice). It's also not really much of a loss, as the only model to offer it was the base, front-wheel-drive vehicle.

There's genuinely good news, though. The 2019 HR-V's infotainment system gets an old-fashioned volume knob, ditching the touch-sensitive surface controls that accomplished less with more required effort and concentration.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration are also now available, and the Touring trim's navigation system gets upgraded graphics and 3D landmarks.

The 2019 HR-V also marks the introduction of standard Honda Sensing semi-autonomous functionality and safety features on EX models and above.

With these updates come some interior and exterior styling and feature updates. The bumpers, headlights, grille, and taillights are all revised, giving the HR-V a slightly more upscale look to match the newly replaced CR-V's.